# Way Upstream

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Way Upstream Written by Alan Ayckbourn Characters Keith June Alistair Emma Mrs. Hatfield Vince Fleur Subject Power struggles Ayckbourn chronology Season's Greetings (1980) Making Tracks (1981)

***Way Upstream*** is a [play](/source/Play_(theatre)) by [Alan Ayckbourn](/source/Alan_Ayckbourn). It was first performed, under Ayckbourn's direction, in [Scarborough](/source/Scarborough%2C_North_Yorkshire), [North Yorkshire](/source/North_Yorkshire), UK, "[in the round](/source/Theatre_in_the_round)" at the [Stephen Joseph Theatre](/source/Stephen_Joseph_Theatre), on 2 October 1981.[1] Although realistic in style, with a setting of a hired [cabin cruiser](/source/Cabin_cruiser) on an English river, some journalists read it as an [allegory](/source/Allegory) of the political state of England at the time, with the violent resolution of the usurping captain's tyrannical regime taking place at "[Armageddon](/source/Armageddon) Bridge", and crew members "Alistair" and "Emma" (representing an innocent ["Adam" and "Eve"](/source/Adam_and_Eve)) making a new start at the end.[2][3] Ayckbourn, however, always maintained he was an apolitical writer and is on frequent record for his lack of interest in party politics; his website makes it clear that the play is not about the political state of the nation.[4]

## Original cast

- Keith: [Robin Bowerman](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Robin_Bowerman&action=edit&redlink=1)

- June: [Carole Boyd](/source/Carole_Boyd)

- Alistair: [Robin Herford](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Robin_Herford&action=edit&redlink=1)

- Emma: [Lavinia Bertram](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lavinia_Bertram&action=edit&redlink=1)

- Mrs Hatfield: [Susan Uebel](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Susan_Uebel&action=edit&redlink=1)

- Vince: [Graeme Eton](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Graeme_Eton&action=edit&redlink=1)

- Fleur: [Gillian Bevan](/source/Gillian_Bevan)

## London opening

The [London](/source/London) première was at the [proscenium](/source/Proscenium) [Lyttelton Theatre](/source/Royal_National_Theatre) on 4 October 1982, with Ayckbourn again directing.[5] It had been postponed since August; the production became notorious because of its many technical problems during rehearsal, most spectacularly the bursting of the water tank which flooded the National Theatre.

### Cast

- Keith: [Tony Haygarth](/source/Tony_Haygarth)

- June: [Susan Fleetwood](/source/Susan_Fleetwood)

- Alistair: [Jim Norton](/source/Jim_Norton_(Irish_actor))

- Emma: [Julie Legrand](/source/Julie_Legrand)

- Mrs Hatfield: [Jane Downs](/source/Jane_Downs)

- Vince: [James Laurenson](/source/James_Laurenson)

- Fleur: [Nina Thomas](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nina_Thomas&action=edit&redlink=1)

### Critical reception

At the much-delayed première the excitement of the technical problems distorted the appreciation of some critics with [Jack Tinker](/source/Jack_Tinker), representative of the *[Daily Mail](/source/Daily_Mail)*, turning up wearing [Wellington boots](/source/Wellington_boot).[6] Most, however, found a work of "genuine merit".[2][7]

## Other productions

It is possible to stage the work without a flooded set and it remains popular with both professional companies and amateur societies.[8] It was revived at the Stephen Joseph Theatre in October 2003.[9] In 1987 the BBC adapted the play as a TV movie, but this has never been released on DVD.[10]

### BBC Cast

- Keith: [Barrie Rutter](/source/Barrie_Rutter)

- June: [Marion Bailey](/source/Marion_Bailey)

- Alistair: [Nick Dunning](/source/Nick_Dunning)

- Emma: [Joanne Pearce](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Joanne_Pearce&action=edit&redlink=1)

- Mrs Hatfield: [Veronica Clifford](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Veronica_Clifford&action=edit&redlink=1)

- Vince: [Stuart Wilson](/source/Stuart_Wilson_(actor))

- Fleur: [Lizzy McInnerny](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lizzy_McInnerny&action=edit&redlink=1)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Ayckbourn, Alan. (1983). *Way Upstream: A Play*. London: Samuel French. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-573-11504-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-573-11504-4).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Londre_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Londre_2-1) Londré, Felicia Hardison (1996). "Alan Ayckbourn". In Gale, Steven H. (ed.). *Encyclopedia of British Humorists*. London: Taylor & Francis. p. 70. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-8240-5990-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-8240-5990-5).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [Hayman, Ronald](/source/Ronald_Hayman) (1984). "Alan Ayckbourn". In Hochman, Stanley (ed.). [*McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of World Drama*](https://archive.org/details/mcgrawhillencycl01hoch). New York: McGraw-Hill. p. [247](https://archive.org/details/mcgrawhillencycl01hoch/page/247). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-07-079169-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-07-079169-4).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Alan Ayckbourn's Official Website"](http://wayupstream.alanayckbourn.net/styled/index.html).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Staff. ["Past events 1981-1985"](http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/8254/past-events/19811985.html). [National Theatre](/source/Royal_National_Theatre). Retrieved 15 December 2008.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Billington, Michael (23 October 2003). ["The show must float on"](https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2003/oct/23/theatre2). *[The Guardian](/source/The_Guardian)*. Retrieved 15 December 2008.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Allen, Paul (2001). *Alan Ayckbourn: Grinning at the Edge*. London: Methuen. p. 205. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-413-73120-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-413-73120-0).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Murgatroyd, Simon (2006). ["Way Upstream: Background & History"](http://wayupstream.alanayckbourn.net/WU_Background.htm). *Alan Ayckbourn's official website*. Retrieved 1 October 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Watson, Ian (24 October 2003). ["Way Upstream (Scarborough)"](http://www.whatsonstage.com/index.php?pg=207&story=E8821067010267). Whatsonstage.com. Retrieved 22 November 2008.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** [*Way Upstream*](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0168249/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier))

## External links

- [*Way Upstream* on official Ayckbourn site](http://wayupstream.alanayckbourn.net/)

- [*Way Upstream*](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0168249/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier))

v t e The plays of Alan Ayckbourn Plays The Square Cat Love After All Dad's Tale Standing Room Only Christmas v Mastermind Mr Whatnot Relatively Speaking The Sparrow How the Other Half Loves Family Circles Time and Time Again Absurd Person Singular The Norman Conquests: Table Manners, Living Together, Round and Round the Garden Absent Friends Confusions Jeeves (musical) Bedroom Farce Just Between Ourselves Ten Times Table Joking Apart Sisterly Feelings Taking Steps Suburban Strains Season's Greetings Way Upstream Making Tracks Intimate Exchanges It Could Be Any One Of Us A Chorus of Disapproval Woman in Mind A Small Family Business Henceforward... Man of the Moment Mr A's Amazing Maze Plays The Revengers' Comedies Invisible Friends Body Language This Is Where We Came In Callisto 5 Wildest Dreams My Very Own Story Time of My Life Dreams from a Summer House Communicating Doors Haunting Julia The Musical Jigsaw Play A Word from Our Sponsor The Champion of Paribanou Things We Do for Love Comic Potential The Boy Who Fell Into a Book House and Garden: House, Garden Virtual Reality Whenever Damsels in Distress: GamePlan, FlatSpin, RolePlay Snake in the Grass The Jollies Sugar Daddies Orvin – Champion Of Champions My Sister Sadie Drowning on Dry Land Private Fears in Public Places Miss Yesterday Improbable Fiction If I Were You Things That Go Bump: Life and Beth Awaking Beauty My Wonderful Day Life of Riley Neighbourhood Watch One-act plays Countdown (from Mixed Doubles) Confusions: Mother Figure, Drinking Companion, Between Mouthfuls, Gosforth's Fete, A Talk in the Park A Cut in the Rates

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